Rotary suspension bobbin holder for textile machines



July 18, 1967 J. M. NOGUERA 3,331,567

ROTARY SUSPENSION BOBBIN HOLDER FOR TEXTILE MACHINES Filed Nov. 15, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 y 1967 Y J. M. NOGUERA 3,331,567

ROTARY SUSPENSION BOBBIN HOLDER FOR TEXTILE MACHINES Filed Nov. 15, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet :3

4 T 9 8 12 7 g 73 73 M7 J *22 76' g/ 5a Yfib I 6 H 4 :1 J F 70 5 /7 H67 FIGS United States Patent 3,331,567 ROTARY SUSPENSION BOBBIN HOLDER FOR TEXTILE MACHINES John Michael Noguera, London, England, assignor to Casablancas Limited, Manchester, England, a British company Filed Nov. 15, 1965, Ser. No. 507,761 Claims priority, application Great Britain, Nov. 23, 1964,

9 Claims. (Cl. 242-1302) This invention relates to rotary suspension bobbin holders for textile machines, the holders being of the type having a spindle-like body with catch means housed therein for movement, through side openings in the body, into and out of a projecting bobbin-retaining position in response to sliding movement imparted to a bobbin abutment collar encircling the body.

A main object of the present invention is to provide such holders with a more positive operation, thereby generally facilitating their use.

Accordingly, the invention provides a rotary suspension bobbin holder of the type specified, wherein the catch means is in the form of a pair of longitudinally slidable and angularly displaceable legs which can be lifted from a retained raised position, in which the legs are generally in facing relationship within the body, swung outwardly at the lower leg ends and lowered downwardly in the body over spreader means, whereby the lower leg ends are further separated into said projecting position, or can be lifted from the projecting position, swung inwardly and lowered into said retained position, longitudinal movement of the legs being co-ordinated by a pivot connection arranged between the upper leg ends to permit limited independent lateral movement of the legs in relation to the pivot axis, and the upper leg ends being each adapted to receive the necessary lifting pressure from the collar at one or other of two alternative positions, which are offset on opposite sides of the leg pivot axis, depending upon the interaction of cam surfaces on the legs with abutment surfaces on the holder body and on the collar.

In order that the invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into effect, an embodiment thereof will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is an exploded part-sectional view showing the upper part of a bobbin in position for engagement on a bobbin holder of the invention, the front wall part of the holder body being omitted to expose catch means therein,

FIGURE 2 shows the parts of the holder and bobbin in the same way as FIGURE 1 except that the bobbin has been pushed home over the holder body to lift a sliding collar, which encircles the body, and the catch means into a fully raised position,

FIGURE 3 is a view which is similar to FIGURE 2 except that the bobbin, catch means and collar are shown in the lowered bobbin-retained position,

FIGURE 4 is a plan view of the collar showing at AA the line of section of the collar in FIGURES 1 and 2,

FIGURE 5 is a view similar to FIGURE 4 but shows at BB the line of section of the collar in FIGURES 3 and 6,

FIGURE 6 is a view which is similar to FIGURES 2 and 3 but shows the positions of the holder parts when the bobbin of FIGURE 3 has been lifted to the uppermost position for the purpose of Withdrawal from the.

holder,

FIGURE 7 is an outside elevation of the bobbin holder shown in FIGURES l, 2, 3 and 6 but angles to these FIGURES,

FIGURE 8 is a view similar to FIGURE 7 but shows the holder turned through 90 about its own axis and operatively engaging the upper end of a bobbin which is shown in section, and

FIGURE 9 is a detail cross-section showing the holder body on the line CC of FIGURE 7.

Referring now to the drawings, a bobbin holder of the invention has an elongated spindle-like body 1 formed with a diametral slot 2 which opens through the body from one side to the other and extends over the greater part of the body length from the upper end of the body. At the upper end, the body is rotatably and swingably attached to the head of a bolt 3, conveniently through the intermediary of a ball race 4 in generally known manner. The bolt 3 may then be provided with a co-operating nut (not shown) whereby the body can be suspended from an overhead creel or other support member (not shown) and may also carry, preferably non-rotatably, an outer skirt-like cap (not shown) which overlies and protects the ball race mechanism.

At the lower end of the body 1, the diametral slot 2 therethrough terminates in spreader means 5, conveniently in the form of an inverted V-section block as shown, the side faces of which form two inclined ramp surfaces 5a and 5b which are offset one from the other. The upped end of each inclined ramp surface is arranged to lead into a slightly dished seating 50 for retaining the catch means as will be later explained.

Slidably surrounding the body of the holder is a comparatively heavy collar 6 having a generally cylindrical bore 7 therethrough which is dimensioned to provide a loose fit around the body 1. The outer wall surface of the collar is of frusto-conical form and the collar is posi tioned on the body so that this outer wall surface diverges upwardly as shown. Opposed pairs of internal abutment surfaces 8, 8a and 9, 9a are inset from the upper end of the collar, the surfaces 8a and 9a of the respective pairs being inset rather more than the surfaces 8 and 9. At the lower end, the collar is provided with diametrically opposed slots 10 which register with the respective open sides of the slot 2 through the holder body.

The catch means which is slidably housed in the slot 2 through the body consists of a pair of similar left and right hand elongated legs 11. Each such leg is conveniently in the form of a flat profiled plate having a generally T-form with a transverse upper end 11a. The upper plate end 11a then forms front and rear projections 12 and 13 which overhang opposite side edges of the plate,

taken at right the operative under edge of projection 12 being set somefoot 14, a first hump what higher-than that of projection 13. At the lower end each plate is formed with a foot 14 and a heel part 15, the heel 15 projecting downwardly to form the lowermost extremity of the plate, and the foot 14 projecting laterally from the plate side edge beneath the front overhanging projection 12. The foot 14 terminates in a toe and the upper edge of the foot is arranged to incline upwardly and inwardly from this toe. Intermediate the front overhanging projection 12 at the upper plate end and the plate 16 is provided to form a cam surface on the plate side edge. A second hump 17, forming a further cam surface, posite plate edge between the tion 13 and the plate heel 15.

Between the front and rear 12 and 13, each plate has a slot 18 formed therethrough, the slot being preferably inclined downwardly towards the plate edge which is overhung by the rear projection 13. The two left and right hand legs 11 as'described are then conveniently located symmetrically face to face in the body slot 2, with the respective feet 14 directed outwardrear overhanging projecoverhanging projections Patented July 18, 1967' is similarly provided on the op-.

ly, by means of a pivot pin 19 which is engaged through the two leg slots 18 and is slidably guided, at opposite ends, in facing channels 20 formed axially down the wall surfaces of the body which define the diametral body slot therebetween. These channels 20 are conveniently arranged to extend from a location near the upper body end to about half way down the length of the body. For cooperation with the first hump 16 on each leg, abutments 21 are provided on opposite sides of the respective body slot openings, these abutments 21 being formed with abutment surfaces which incline inwardly of the body and downwardly.

The axial length or depth of the collar 6 in combination with the abutments 21 in the slot openings and the humps 16 and 17 on the legs, ensure that the legs are positively guided over the full length of their longitudinal movements in the holder body. At the same time, the provision of the pivot pin 19, which connects the upper leg ends through the intermediary of the inclined slots 18, ensures that the two leg movements are fully coordinated and substantially symmetrical.

In operation, a holder as described is suspended vertically from an overhead creel or other support, the collar 6 taking up a lowermost stopped position on the body under its own weight and the legs 11 occupying a retained raised position as shown in FIGURE 1. In this retained raised position of the legs, the heel 15 of each leg is located in the dished seating Scat the top of the co-operating ramp surface a or 5b and the front overhanging leg projection 12 then extends through the adjoining open side of the body slot to project from the body. The holder is now ready to receive a bobbin 22.

To engage the bobbin 22, the usual neck opening 23 at one end of the bobbin is pushed over the bottom of the holder body until the rim of the bobbin neck abuts the collar. Further upward movement of the bobbin then slides the collar upwardly until it entrains the front overhanging leg projections so that the legs are then also carried up with the collar and bobbin until the collar is stopped against the top of the holder body in the position shown in FIGURE 2. As a result of collar pressure on the overhanging front leg projections 12, the legs are not only lifted from their dished seatings but are also caused to swing outwardly at their lower ends. If then upward pressure on the bobbin is released and the latter is allowed to drop back down the holder body, the collar will follow the bobbin downwardly under its own weight and the legs will also drop in the holder body so that the heels ride over the ramp surfaces. This causes the leg feet to spread outwardly and to engage under the usual internal over-- hanging shoulder 24 on the bobbin, as shown in FIGURE 3, to prevent withdrawal of the bobbin from the holder.

During the aforesaid lowering of the legs over the ramp means into the projecting bobbin retaining position, the first hump 16 on each leg rides over the associated downwardly inclined surface of abutment 21 in the adjoining slot opening. This causes the upper leg ends to move laterally in opposite directions in relation to the axis of pivot 19 and the rear overhanging projections 13 on the legs then extend into opposite side openings of the bobbin holder slots for entrainment by the collar when the latter is next raised.

In order to release a bobbin which is suspended as shown in FIGURE 3, the bobbin is again pushed upwardly to the fullest extent possible to raise the collar to the top of the body as shown in FIGURE 6. During this upward movement of the collar, the rear overhanging projections 13 on the legs are entrained by the respective collar abutment surfaces 8a and 9a which, as shown, are inset more from the top of the collar than are the abutment surfaces 8 and 9 and are also located closer to the collar axis. As a result, the lower leg ends are retracted up the ramp surfaces to withdraw the feet from the bobbin shoulder, and the leg heels 15 are caused to swing inwardly over their respective dished seatings 50 (see 4 FIGURE 6). When the bobbin is then lowered to allow the collar and legs to drop downwardly, the leg heels will now drop straight into their seatings and will be retained therein. This enables the bobbin to be withdrawn from the holder and, at the same time, allows the collar to fall.

towards the stopped position at the lower end of the holder body as shown in FIGURE 1. In so falling, abutment,

surfaces provided by the edges of slots 10 in the lower collar end are arranged to ride over and bear against the second leg humps 17. As a result, the leg heels are caused to fulcrum in their dished seatings and the upper leg ends to swing back into a position in which the front overhanging projections again extend from the holder body and the pivot pin is located'in the lower slot ends. The holder is then ready to receive a further bobbin as shown in FIGURE 1.

The downward movement of the legs into the project-' ing bobbin retaining position may be limited by abutment of the leg feet against the bobbin wall beneath the bobbin shoulder. In the case of bobbins having a chamber portion of large diameter, however, the downward drop of the legs may be limited by engagement of the front overhanging leg projections over the upper edges of the aforesaid abutments 21 in the slot openings.

As will be appreciated, the modified bobbin holder of the invention enables the collar to be pushed upwardly to a positively stopped location both for engagement and removal of a bobbin. This is of great importance in the use of such holders since it enables the operation of engaging and disengaging a bobbin to be performed very quickly and carelessly by an operator, whose attention may be partially distracted by other tasks.

What I claim is:

1. A rotary suspension bobbin holder comprising a spindle-like body adapted to enter the open end of the bobbin, a pair of legs mounted for longitudinal and angular displacement in an elongated diametral body slot opening through said body from one side to the other, a pivot connection between the upper leg ends adapted to permit limited independent lateral leg movement in relation to the pivot axis, leg spreader means at the lower end of said slot, means for retaining said legs in a raised face to face position within the body, two lateral projections near the upper end of each leg and offset on opposite sides of the leg pivot axis, a bobbin .abutment collar slidably encircling said body and having abutment surfaces thereon for transmitting lifting pressure to one or other of said projections on each leg depending upon the angular positioning of the legs in the slot and interacting cam surfaces on the legs, holder body and collar which determine said angular positioning of the legs so that, by lifting said collar to a stopped raised position and thereafter allowing said collar to drop back down said body, the legs can be lifted from said retained raised position, swung outwardly at the lower leg ends and dropped downwardly over said spreader means whereby said lower leg ends are further separated into a projecting bobbin-retaining position and conversely, can be lifted from said projecting position, swung inwardly and dropped into said retained position.

2. A rotary suspension bobbin holder as claimed in,

claim 1, in which said legs are composed of similar generally T-shaped flat profiled'plates, the transverse upper end of each plate forming said two lateral projections which overhang front and rear side edges of the plate and provide two alternative lifting positions, there being a 3. A rotary suspension bobbin holder as claimed claim 2, in which said collar has opposed pairs of internal abutment surfaces for co-operating with said leg projections, one abutment surface of each said pair of surfaces, which CO-Operates with the rear projection on one leg,

being inset further into the collar than the other abutment surface of the pair, which co-operates with the front projection on the other leg, and being set somewhat closer to the collar axis.

4. A rotary suspension bobbin holder as claimed in claim 3, in which said pivotal connection between the legs is provided by a pin which engages through slots in the upper leg ends, each said slot having a downward inclination towards the leg 'edge which is overhung by the rear projection.

5. A rotary suspension bobbin holder as claimed in claim 4, in which said spreader means is in the form of an inverted generally V-section block 'fonning two inclined ramp surfaces which are oifset one from the other to co-operate with the respective lower leg ends, the upper end of each said ramp surface being arranged to lead into a slightly dished seating in which the heel of the associated leg is engaged when the legs are in the retained raised position.

6. A rotary suspension bobbin holder as claimed in claim 5, in which said cam surfaces on each leg are formed by first and second humps, the first hump being located intermediate the front overhanging leg projection and the foot and the second hump being located intermediate the rear overhanging leg projection and the heel, the said humps being arranged to co-operate respectively with the cam surfaces on the holder body and the collar to move the upper leg ends laterally on said pivot pin between positions in which the front and rear leg projections are respectively located for entrainment by the collar.

7. A rotary suspension bobbin holder as claimed in claim 6, in which said pivot pin is guided at opposite ends in axial channels which are formed down the wall surfaces of the body which define said diametral slot therebetween.

8. A rotary suspension bobbin holder as claimed in claim 7, in which the axial depth of said collar in conjunction with the leg shaping and form of said holder body cam surfaces, which project into the slot openings of the holder body, is such that said legs are positively guided over their full length of movement up and down the holder body.

9. A rotary suspension bobbin holder as claimed in claim 8, in which the upper edges of the cam surfaces in the body slot openings are arranged for engagement by the front overhanging projections of the respective legs to limit the downward drop of the legs when a bobbin is engaged on the holder.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,836,376 5/1958 Winslow 242130.2 2,873,930 2/1959 Brunner 242130.2 3,195,833 7/1965 Noguera 242130.2

LEONARD D. CHRISTIAN, Primary Examiner. 

1. A ROTARY SUSPENSION BOBBIN HOLDER COMPRISING A SPINDLE-LIKE BODY ADAPTED TO ENTER THE OPEN END OF THE BOBBIN, A PAIR OF LEGS MOUNTED FOR LONGITUDINAL AND ANGULAR DISPLACEMENT IN AN ELONGATED DIAMETRAL BODY SLOT OPENING THROUGH SAID BODY FROM ONE SIDE TO THE OTHER, A PIVOT CONNECTION BETWEEN THE UPPER LEG ENDS ADAPTED TO PERMIT LIMITED INDEPENDENT LATERAL LEG MOVEMENT IN RELATION TO THE PIVOT AXIS, LEG SPREADER MEANS AT THE LOWER END OF SAID SLOT, MEANS FOR RETAINING SAID LEGS IN A RAISED FACE TO FACE POSITION WITHIN THE BODY, TWO LATERAL PROJECTIONS NEAR THE UPPER END OF EACH LEG AND OFFSET ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE LEG PIVOT AXIS, A BOBBIN ABUTMENT COLLAR SLIDABLY ENCIRCLING SAID BODY AND HAVING ABUTMENT SURFACES THEREON FOR TRANSMITTING LIFTING PRESSURE TO ONE OR OTHER OF SAID PROJECTIONS ON EACH LEG DEPENDING UPON THE ANGULAR POSITIONING OF THE LEGS IN THE SLOT AND INTERACTING CAM SURFACES ON THE LEGS, HOLDER BODY AND COLLAR WHICH DETERMINE SAID ANGULAR POSITIONING OF THE LEGS SO THAT, BY LIFTING SAID COLLAR TO A STOPPED RAISED POSITION AND THEREAFTER ALLOWING SAID COLLAR TO DROP BACK DOWN SAID BODY, THE LEGS CAN BE LIFTED FROM SAID RETAINED RAISED POSITION, SWUNG OUTWARDLY AT THE LOWER LEG ENDS AND DROPPED DOWNWARDLY OVER SAID SPREADER MEANS WHEREBY SAID LOWER LEG ENDS ARE FURTHER SEPARATED INTO A PROJECTING BOBBIN-RETAINING POSITION AND CONVERSELY, CAN BE LIFTED FROM SAID PROJECTING POSITION, SWUNG INWARDLY AND DROPPED INTO SAID RETAINED POSITION. 